Alternative outdoor advertising method

ABSTRACT

A storage method includes the steps of delivering a storage container to a customer, leaving the storage container at a site selected by the customer and marketing advertising space on the storage container (see FIG.  1 ).

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplications Ser. Nos. 60/702,476 filed on 26 Jul. 2005 and 60/763,709filed on 31 Jan. 2006.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the storage and outdooradvertising fields.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As a successful business grows, it generally has a need for more spacein order to meet its need to provide customers with goods and/orservices. Thus, many businesses today presently need additional storagespace and/or inventory control. Generally they meet this need by either(a) changing locations, (b) making a substantial capital investment in abuilding expansion or ©) renting mini-warehousing space at another,remote site.

For many businesses, relocating is not an option as the location itselfis a key to the business. For many others insufficient capital isavailable for building expansion. Further, the need for additionalstorage is often a short term or seasonal one not fully justifying asubstantial capital expense. Further, while mini-warehousing may be aviable option for some businesses, it is inconvenient since a trip isrequired to the remote site in order to retrieve needed items orsupplies. Since a mini-warehouse location is often a significantdistance from the place of business, substantial labor time is lost whenan employee is required to retrieve items. Further, with the high costof gasoline and the potential liability risk run when an employee isdriving his or her vehicle in a business capacity, substantial expenseis also incurred.

The present invention provides a fourth and for many businesses abetter, alternative solution to the space problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the purposes of the present invention as describedherein, a storage method is provided. The storage method comprises thesteps of delivering a storage container to a customer, leaving thestorage container at a site selected by the customer and marketingadvertising space on the storage container. More specifically, thedelivering steps include hauling a prefabricated storage container witha vehicle. The leaving step includes using a carrier frame to remove thestorage container from the vehicle and place the storage container atthe site.

In addition the method may include the step of retrieving the storagecontainer from the site at a designated time. That retrieving includesusing a carrier frame to lift the storage container onto a vehicle.During lifting the storage container is maintained substantially levelso as to prevent tipping of stored articles and protect the contents ofthe storage container from damage.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention themethod may include the storing of a storage container in a warehouse andthe providing of the customer with access to the storage containerstored in that warehouse.

In the following description there is shown and described a preferredembodiment of the invention, simply by way of illustration of one of themodes best suited to carry out the invention. As it will be realized,the invention is capable of other different embodiments and its severaldetails are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects allwithout departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings anddescriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not asrestrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawing incorporated in and forming a part of thisspecification, illustrates several aspects of the present invention, andtogether with the description serves to explain certain principles ofthe invention. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage container provided to acustomer through the method of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a schematical end elevational view of a storage containerthrough the open end doors.

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodimentof the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present method may be generally and broadly described as includingthe steps of delivering a storage container to a customer, leaving thestorage container at a site selected by the customer and marketingadvertising space on the storage container. That delivering stepincludes hauling a prefabricated storage container with a vehicle suchas a truck or trailer pulled by a truck or other motor vehicle. Inaddition the leaving step includes using a carrier frame to remove thestorage container from the vehicle and place the storage container atthe site. A carrier frame of this type is well known in the art anddescribed in detail in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,770 the fulldisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

In addition the method may include the step of retrieving the storagecontainer from the site at a designated time. This retrieval may be atcustomer request such as after completing a special sale or promotion.The retrieval may be in accordance with local regulation allowing thecontainer to remain at the site for only a limited period of time. Thisretrieving includes using a carrier frame such as of the type disclosedin U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,770 or some other device to lift the storagecontainer 10 onto a vehicle such as a truck bed or trailer. Duringlifting the storage frame functions to maintain the storage containersubstantially level so as to prevent tipping of stored articles andprotect the contents placed in the storage container by the customer. Inaddition the method may include storing the storage container in awarehouse and providing the customer access to the storage containerstored in the warehouse. That warehouse may be subject to climatecontrol so as to provide and maintain a temperature level, a humiditylevel or the like in a desired range. That access may be on a 24-hourbasis for the convenience of the customer.

As noted above the storage method includes the step of marketingadvertising space on the storage container. More specifically describingthe invention the method may include providing a banner on the storagecontainer. In one possible embodiment the method includes theilluminating of that banner. Illumination may be performed in any mannerincluding up lighting, down lighting or even back lighting the banner.In one possible embodiment the method includes using anelectroluminescent material for the banner. Such a material isself-illuminating in the absence of any other light source. Further, themethod may include printing the banner with digital graphics.Illuminated digital graphics provide a particularly effectiveadvertising medium. Still further, the method may include providing anelectronic display device such as a plasma monitor, liquid crystaldisplay, a rotary sign assembly such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.4,021,946, an electronic message board or the like on the storagecontainer 10.

In accordance with yet additional aspects of the present invention, themethod includes the rotating of the advertising provided on the storagecontainer. In addition the method may include back lighting or downlighting the advertising so as to provide better visibility at night. Inaddition the method may include providing short range radio transmissionadvertising such as low wattage transmission on 89.1 FM. The transmittermay be located anywhere within a given radius (e.g. within 200 yards) ofthe storage container 10 or even on the storage container.

Still further, the method may include site preparation for asemipermanent installation of the storage container 10. Such sitepreparation may include construction of a foundation for the container10 from poured concrete or other material, anchoring of the storagecontainer 10 to the ground and/or the tapping into electrical, waterand/or natural gas utility lines.

One possible construction of an integrated advertising and storagecontainer or “box billboard” 10 is illustrated in FIGS. 1-2. Morespecifically, the storage container 10 includes a floor 12, two sidewalls 14, an end wall 16 and a roof 18. A pair of cooperating, lockingdoors 20 define a second end wall opposite the first end wall 16. Anytype of door 20 useful for the intended purpose may be utilized.Together, the floor 12, side walls 14, end walls 16, roof 18 and doors20 define an interior storage space 22. That storage space 22 may becustomized to meet the customer's needs including particular rack,shelving, partitioning layouts (note shelves 23) as required or desiredby the customer for purposes of inventory storage and control. Theinterior customization may be tailored to integrate with inventorycontrol technology such as bar coding.

Similarly, the exterior of the storage container 10 may be customized tomatch the trade dress and/or architectural features of the customer'smain building near which the storage container 10 may be placed intoservice. Thus, for example, the storage container 10 may include adecorative roof cap 24 sized and shaped to customer specifications. Theroof cap 24 may include customer advertising, trade dress or logo 26 ifdesired and/or as allowed.

The storage container 10 may also be equipped with various electricaland/or mechanical systems. For example, a climate control unit 28 suchas an air conditioner, refrigerator, freezer, humidifier or dehumidifiermay be provided on the storage container 10 in order to provide climatecontrol of the storage space 22 within the storage container.Accordingly, products such as perishable food, dairy products, softdrinks and beer may be maintained at the desired temperatures even inhot and humid environments.

In addition, the storage container 10 may be equipped with a solar panel30 and cooperating battery 32 to store energy for powering an internallighting system 34 for illuminating the storage space 22 or illuminatingadvertising 36 on the side wall 14, end wall 16 or other exteriorcomponent of the storage container 10. That advertising 36 may comprisea stretched banner material and it may be front lit or back lit asdesired. Alternatively, the banner may be made from a luminescent filmor foil such as disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,676,451 and6,637,906, so as to be self-illuminating. The banner may be printed witha high quality digital graphic image. In one possible embodiment thevarious electrical and mechanical components of the container 10 mayderive their power from tapping into the lines of the local electricalutility company and/or from connection with some other form of electricgenerator or fuel cell.

Still further, the storage container 10 may incorporate a radiotransmitter 38 for the transmission of short range advertisementsrespecting products displayed in the advertising 36 appearing on theexterior surface of the storage container 10. A particularly effectiveadvertising combination is the use of a backlit digital graphicadvertising banner 36 in conjunction with local transmission radioadvertising providing details of the particular product. This isparticularly effective when advertising a product that is sold at thecustomer's place of business.

For certain applications, the structure 10 may be constructed, forexample, from modular building materials such as prefabricated panels 40of the type shown and described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,279,287to Meadows, U.S. Pat. No. 5,373,678 to Hesser and U.S. Pat. No.6,119,427 to Wyman et al. Such modular panels 40 typically incorporate acore of thermal insulating material sandwiched between metal or plasticsheathing. Such a construction provides a significant R-factor for bothefficient and effective control of the temperature and humidity of theenvironment in the internal space 22 and excellent inclement weatherdurability for a long, low-maintenance service life. Structures 10constructed from such modular building panels 40 are also characterizedby high strength and will resist high winds and maintain a weather-tightenclosure to protect products held in the space 22 from inclementweather. In fact, such structures may be easily anchored to the groundsuch as by means of cooperating nut and bolt anchors 42 where the boltis received and held in an underlying poured concrete pad 44. Themodular panels 40 also allow the structure 10 to be quickly and easilyerected and subsequently removed in a minimal amount of time whileproducing a minimum of mess.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present method, the storagecontainer 10 is leased to the customer for a set term. The customer paysa first lease rate when the storage container 10 is stored in thewarehouse. The customer pays a second, reduced rate when the storagecontainer 10 is sited at the customer's place of business. In certainsituations, the lease payments may be partially or fully waived when thestorage container 10 is at the customer's site and advertising revenuemay be generated by the unit.

In summary, numerous benefits result from employing the concepts of thepresent invention. The customer may store inventory or other materialwhere they are protected from inclement weather. Advantageously, thestorage space is also provided at a site selected by the customer. Sucha site is typically conveniently located next to the customer's mainbuilding of business. Thus, for example, a convenience store operatormay store an extra inventory of cold soft drinks and beer immediatelyadjacent the customer's retail location. The substantially cost-free,onsite storage provided by the present method is an attractivealternative when compared to leased, remotely located mini-warehousing.

The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention has been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications orvariations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example,the advertising 36 may comprise the direct application of graphics tothe panels 40 of the structure 10 and down lighting from a light source42 in the roof cap 24 to illuminate those graphics. The structure 10could also include a display system such as a plasma monitor, liquidcrystal display, a rotary sign assembly, an electronic message board orthe like to display advertising 36.

The embodiment was chosen and described to provide the best illustrationof the principles of the invention and its practical application tothereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the inventionin various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited tothe particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variationsare within the scope of the invention as determined by the appendedclaims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they arefairly, legally and equitably entitled. The drawings and preferredembodiments do not and are not intended to limit the ordinary meaning ofthe claims and their fair and broad interpretation in any way.

1. A storage method, comprising: delivering a storage container to acustomer; leaving said storage container at a site selected by saidcustomer; and marketing advertising space on said storage container. 2.The storage method of claim 1, wherein said delivering includes haulinga prefabricated storage container with a vehicle.
 3. The storage methodof claim 2, wherein said leaving includes using a carrier frame toremove said storage container from said vehicle and place said storagecontainer at said site.
 4. The storage method of claim 3, furtherincluding retrieving said storage container from said site at adesignated time.
 5. The storage method of claim 4, wherein saidretrieving includes using a carrier frame to lift said storage containeronto a vehicle.
 6. The storage method of claim 5, including maintainingsaid storage container substantially level during lifting.
 7. Thestorage method of claim 6, including storing said storage container in awarehouse.
 8. The storage method of claim 7, including providingcustomer access to said storage container stored in said warehouse. 9.The storage method of claim 1, wherein said leaving includes using acarrier frame to remove said storage container from said vehicle andplace said storage container at said site.
 10. The storage method ofclaim 9, further including retrieving said storage container from saidsite at customer request.
 11. The storage method of claim 10, whereinsaid retrieving includes using a carrier frame to lift said storagecontainer onto a vehicle.
 12. The storage method of claim 11, includingmaintaining said storage container substantially level during lifting.13. The storage method of claim 12, including storing said storagecontainer in a warehouse.
 14. The storage method of claim 13, includingproviding customer access to said storage container stored in saidwarehouse.
 15. The method of claim 1, further including placing saidstorage container adjacent said customer's place of business andallowing said customer use of internal storage space in said storagecontainer.
 16. The method of claim 15, further including customizingsaid internal storage space to meet the needs of said customer.
 17. Themethod of claim 1, further including providing climate control for aninternal storage space of said storage container.
 18. The method ofclaim 1, including rotating advertising provided on said storagecontainer.
 19. The method of claim 1, including illuminating advertisingon said storage container.
 20. The method of claim 1, includingproviding short range radio advertising in a limited area around saidstorage container.